Hibiscus Flower Pattern

Hibiscus Flower made in Shepherd's Wool Spring Chick petals with Hot Pink center.

Hibiscus Flower Pattern

(2226)

Difficulty: Intermediate

The hibiscus, a member of the mallow family Malvaceae, is an exquisite flower. Not only are the flowers beautiful, with an astonishing array of colors and color variations, but all parts of the flower are also edible. Petals make a sweet tea, leaves a more tannic one. The blossoms can also be found in exotic drinks, jams, and jellies, and as a sculptural addition to beverages.

In this knitted version of the tropical beauty, I dissected actual flowers in order to represent the architecture of the blossoms as accurately as possible. The result is a flower that is as bold as it is beautiful and almost perfectly actual size when worked in worsted weight wool or silk. It is stunning on the front of a handbag such as 6, 8, 10 or Grace Kelly's Overnight Bag, spectacular on a cloche hat, unexpected on the wide lapel of a winter coat.

The flower pictured here has been wired so as to hold its life-like shape. If you love this flower and would like to make more of less or similar complexity, see 40 more knitted flowers and 6 projects in my book, Noni Flowers.

Click the Additional Details tab below for information about gauge, needed yardage, and other necessary materials.

Grace Kelly's Overnight Bag

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Some of you who love the 6-8-10 and W felted bags have asked for a bigger version with that same sense of style. My answer: This Bag!

As I was designing, I thought of Hitchcock's Rear Window . . . I won't reveal the story, except to say that when the Grace Kelly character insists on staying over at Jimmy Stewart's place so she can look after him, she brings over a tiny overnight bag for a woman with such lovely outfits (you'd imagine she'd have a trunk delivered). But she is as practical as she is fashionable and pulls everything she needs out of the tiny overnight bag: stunning floor length shimmery sleeping gown, tooth brush, etc. . . . This is, of course, in the days of separate bedrooms or one foot on the floor fully clothed.
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Some of you who love the 6-8-10 and W felted bags have asked for a bigger version with that same sense of style. My answer: This Bag!

As I was designing, I thought of Hitchcock's Rear Window . . . I won't reveal the story, except to say that when the Grace Kelly character insists on staying over at Jimmy Stewart's place so she can look after him, she brings over a tiny overnight bag for a woman with such lovely outfits (you'd imagine she'd have a trunk delivered). But she is as practical as she is fashionable and pulls everything she needs out of the tiny overnight bag: stunning floor length shimmery sleeping gown, tooth brush, etc. . . . This is, of course, in the days of separate bedrooms or one foot on the floor fully clothed.

This bag is my version of Grace Kelly's Overnight bag: elegant, roomy enough for a gossamer night gown, toothbrush, cosmetics, wallet.

The classic lines make it ideal for special events: art openings, the literary reading at the independent bookstore followed by the wine and cheese mixer. It will go beautifully to any wedding, whether with the bride, her mother, or the groom's. It is dazzling unadorned, beaded, or bedecked with flowers: the perfect gift for yourself or for the most elegant woman in your life.

Please peruse the Additional Details tab below for information about dimensions, gauge, materials, hardware components, and hardware kits.

Finished Dimensions

12" (30cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
6.5" (16.25cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
3" (7.5cm) deep
9.5" (24cm) tall from bottom to frame

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Easy: Requires knowledge of casting on, knitting and purling, picking up stitches in knitted fabric, decreasing, knitting in the round on circular needles, and some hand-sewing during the finishing process.

Gauge

Pre-felted Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rounds = 4" (10cm) in St st with a single strand of yarn.

Materials

Suggested Hardware:

Empire frame - Because the Empire Frame is now sold out, an excellent hardware substitute is the Elegant Frame with Bag Feet kit available in 3 finishes
27" (68cm) purse chain
6 Noni Big 24mm bag feet
11.25 x 13.5 in sheet of stiffener
Seed beads and Nylon thread
'A Noni Designs' Label

Yarn Requirements

315 yds (288m) of worsted weight, feltable yarn

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle
Tapestry Needle
Sewing needles
Nylon beading thread
Stitch markers
Fabric glue (clear drying)
Awl or double-pointed needle
Paper hole punch

Pictured Samples

The pictured bag was created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool in Pewter.

Pattern Difficulty

While this flower requires a certain level of commitment and resolution, the skills required are known by most knitters. Your dedication will be rewarded with the resulting beautiful, life-like hibiscus flower. Intrepid knitters should know how to knit and purl, increase and decrease using several methods, be comfortable working in the round on double-pointed needles, and be able to execute the simple sewing techniques required to weave-in ends, wire petals, bead the finished flower by hand if desired, and sew the flower to a bag or other item.

Gauge

While gauge is not exactly important for this pattern. To make the flowers in the size pictured, use the recommended needle size(s) and yarn weight. For smaller or larger flowers, change your gauge by going down in yarn gauge and needle size, or up, respectively.

Yarn Requirements

250 yds (228.5m) each Spring Green, Fuchsia, Christmas Red or Red, and Spring Chick Yellow or Christmas Red
10 yds (9m) Crystal Palace Fizz in bright red or dark red

Needles and Other Materials

Size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5)
Seed beads and nylon beading thread (optional)
Sharp sewing needle to hand-bead and sew your flower onto a bag or other item.
Sharp needle with large eye for weaving in ends and wiring
26 gauge beading wire for wiring petals (optional)

Pictured Sample

The pictured sample was created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool in Spring Green and Spring Chick Yellow, Tilli Tomas Flurries in Raspberry (unfortunately, no longer available), and Crystal Palace Fuzz in Hibiscus